Environment Award for Sand Moor BIGGA AGM Sand Moor Golf Club in Leeds was

the recipient of a special BIGGA Environment Competition award recently.

The club had made a strong bid for this year's BIGGA Golf Environment Competition, in association with Amazone and Grass Roots, thanks to the commitment and dedicated hard work of Head Greenkeeper, Bobby Barnes.

However, a couple of days after competition judge, Jonathan Hart-Woods, met up with Bobby to be shown the work done at Sand Moor the respected Head Greenkeeper died suddenly.

It was to honour Bobby and the rest of his team that Rod Baker, Managing Director of Amazone Ground Care; Bob Taylor and Jonathan Hart-Woods of the STRI, and BIGGA Chairman, Gordon Child, travelled to Leeds to present the club with a plaque in recognition of the fine environmental work that had been done.

Rod Baker, who the previous

month had presented Temple Golf Club, in Berkshire with the National Award, was equally delighted to be making the presentation to Sand Moor.

"Golf is not bad for the environ-ment and here it provides an environmental haven in the middle of an urban society," he said.

With the encouragement given by the award Sand Moor Captain, David

Hughes said they would be definitely entering the competition again in 2000.

"We are extremely proud of what Bobby and the rest of the staff have done at Sand Moor."

Also present from the club was Acting Head Greenkeeper John Daniel; Chairman of Green, Robin Kilburn and Club Chairman Qive Wilkinson.

Students get the point of grinding workshop Grinding your cylinder mower to

give optimum cutting performance was the topic of a recent workshop at Greenmount College. A large number of students and local greenkeepers attended the workshop delivered by Express Dual Educational Bernhard and Company

The workshop which was organised by Neil McLaughlin, of Greenmount College, demonstrated the use of the Express dual 2000 to grind cylinder mowers.

Stephen Bernhard discussed the importance of a planned maintenance programme and correct cylinder grind-ing to ensure first class performance from mowers. Slides snowing the damage caused to grass by different blades gave some food for thought.

Evaluating the day David Morris lec-turer in mechanisation said that the students were captivated by the lively and informative presentation.

Neil McLaughlin was delighted with

the attendance and the quality of training provided.

"It is always beneficial to see machinery

operated by experienced machinists and to talk to tne experts, we greatly appreci-ated Bernhards visit to the College."

A new look for some familiar faces In the autumn of '98, the idea for

Pentagon Amenity Marketing was conceived and now, some 18 months on, the business is ready to become a trading reality Pentagon is a new face, but one you'll recognise because it already deals with the majority of the UK's landscape and turf professionals. Pentagon consists of Stewart's in Scotland, Alpha Amenity (formerly County Amenity) in the North of England and Midlands, Collier Turf Care in East Anglia and Driving Force Leisure in the South.

"Pentagon was created and exists

to reduce the distance between cus-tomer and supplier. After a decade's experience working for ICI (in which ever guise!) I noticed that national distributors found it difficult to offer the same service nationwide as they could local to their depots. In con-trast, regional suppliers offered a more efficient service to their cus-tomers, but often lacked the support and buying power of their larger competitors. With a combined sales force numbering 22, four main dis-tribution points, Pentagon will be able to trade as local suppliers but have the strength and support of a

national scale distributor," explained Clive Heginbotham, Business Director of Pentagon Amenity Marketing Ltd.

Pentagon has now put together a portfolio of new products sourced from across Britain and Europe, some of which you will know, others you may not.

The new products will be show cased at BTME 2000 and will include a range of fertilisers, equip-ment, speciality paints, biological treatments, and a range of proaucts designed to complement the 'natur-al' approach to turf management.

The 2000 BIGGA AGM will be held in the Majestic Hotel Ballroom at 5.45pm, Wednesday, January 19. Membership Cards must be pro-duced to gain admission.

Taking a gander at new leaflet

Just published, The Management of Problems Caused by Canada Geese: A Guide to Best Practice, describes in detail the biology of Canada Geese and also the problems that they can cause. The booklet, which will be of use to peo-ple managing public amenity areas, recommends integrated management strategies, combining habitat modifica-tion and population control.

The species can be hunted in the open season -1 September to 31 January (or 20 February on the foreshore). During close season Canada Geese are protect-ed by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, under the Act, licences can be granted to control adult birds and/or their eggs. Licences are issued by both the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and also by the Ministry of Agriculture

Fisheries and Food (for agricultural sit-uations).

Copies are available from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, European Wildlife Division, Room 902, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol, B52 9DJ; Tel. 0117-987-8903.

Nick gets set to cover Midlands

Scotts UK Professional has appoint-ed Nick Martin to the Turf and Amenity sales team to cover the Midlands.

Previously employed in a sales capacity with Scotts Main Distributor E T Breakwell, Nick has also gained experience as a Golf Course Manager with The Vale Golf and Country Club and studied to National Diploma level at Pershore and Hindlip College.

Nick is an active member of an off road racing team, participating in events all over the UK and is a keen cricket and squash player.

Stolen Sisis A Royer Shredder 112 was stolen

from SISIS Scottish Depot in Falkirk on 21 November. If you are offered one for sale from an unorthodox source SISIS would like to hear from you.

Please Call Keith Vertigan on 01625 503030.

Par Aide UK Par Aide UK has become the offi-

cial distributor of Range Servant Driving Range equipment and will be undertaking the servicing of all existing equipment.

For more information contact Andrew Lofting Tel: 01424 818008.

Matt moves on to Bioseed

Bioseed Probiotics has appointed Matt Maryon, former Course Manager at Yeovil Golf Club, to its the sales team from January 2000. Matt will be covering the South West, South Wales and South Midlands.

"Leaving greenkeeping was a diffi-cult decision, however a new direction brings a new challenge. I am really looking forward to working with the team and developing my role and area with Bioseed. The Company has great products and ideas and are totally committed to the Sportsturf industry," he said.

We'll be right back after the break...

That's exactly what one of our Greenkeeper Members did! Craig Pennycuick, Head Greenkeeper at Winterfield GC, famous for his tattoo of the BIGGA logo, is a keen Sunday League footballer, unfortunately, one fateful Sunday he found himself involved in a bad tackle which result-ed in him breaking his leg.

Craig was obviously off work for some weeks, but what he didn't realise was that he could claim for being off work under the Personal Accident Insurance scheme. Craig was aware of the scheme, but because he had an accident in his leisure time and not at work, he did-n't think he was covered.

Steve Dixon, Craig's Section Secretary, checked with Craig to see if he was claiming and pointed out that it didn't matter where the acci-dent took place, he was entitled to receive payments while he was off work.

So, Craig contacted the insurers immediately, they sent him a form to complete with his Doctor's signa-ture, he returned it and within days he had a cheque arrive through his door.

So the moral of the story, if you are a Greenkeeping Member, you are covered for any accident you have, whether at work, home, holiday or even playing football! If you find yourself off work because of an acci-dent, contact the insurers straight away!

Thankfully Craig is back on his feet and is now playing it safe and is ref-ereeing instead. Is that safe these days?

Royal Inverdivot GC... by Tony Husband

Barenbrug gets set to lead the way

Barenbrug is the first seed company to announce double testing of grass seed mixtures destined for turf pro-duction.

Quality testing of seed delivered to Barenbrug's warehouse has been the norm, as with most other seed pro-ducers, for many years. Barenbrug decided 12 months ago that this alone was not good enough so it intro-duced random testing of the mixed turfgrass seed using the same controls and independent testing houses as previously. This extra test has been of great interest to Turf Grower cus-tomers, so much so that the company has announced that the experiment will become a standard procedure for all turfgrass seed orders. Bags of Barenbrug Turf Mixtures will carry a yellow label confirming this.

"Turf Growers can now gain further confidence from the stringent con-trols and extra check we have put in place," said Alan Lomas, Sales and Marketing Manager.

BIGCA goes Stateside for study Twenty four members of the British

Institute of Golf Course Architects spent a week in the south-east of the United States studying historic cours-es and meeting with USGA Green Section Staff.

The tour, led by BIGCA President Howard Swan and Vice President David Williams, took in the Championship courses at Pinehurst and Augusta National, as well as the Atlanta

Athletic Club where the USPGA Tournament will be held in 2002.

The Study Tour was part of the Institute's continuing Professional Development Programme for its membership.

The 24 architects, representing a third of the Institute, came from 14 countries, and among them were nine students from BIGCA Diploma Course.

Advanta uses BTME to launch brand new portfolio

Following a year of corporate restruc-turing, grass seed breeder Advanta, (formerly Mommersteeg and Sharpes International), is using BTME to launch its own portfolio of amenity grass seed mixtures. These are being presented as two distinct brands -Advanta MM's and Designer from Advanta.

The mixtures within each range, have been designed to produce high quality, persistent swards, which are tailored to specific end-uses.

"We now offer the most complete range of amenity grass mixtures in the UK," says Advanta Amenity Sales and Marketing Manager, Dave Phillips.

"By having two core brands we are providing our customers, who often have very diverse requirements, with the best choice of high quality mixtures they will find in the market today."

Cecil George pays a personal tr ibute to Harry Diamond who died last month.. .

Harry Diamond 1930-1999

Harry Diamond died at Ayr County Hospital at 3 am on Wednesday December 8th, 1999 in his 69th year. To write all that Harry has achieved over the years would fill Greenkeeper International for the next few issues. He was, as we say in Scotland, 'A man of many parts'.

I have known Harry since we were strong young men, both of us being active members of the Scottish and International Golf Greenkeepers Association. His introduction to golf was through caddying as a very young lad. He was born and brought up in Irvine, which is in the very heart of Ayrshire golfing country. He once told me that, except for a few short walks, you could hit a ball from one course to another for five miles down the Ayrshire coast.

When one considers there are 16 top class courses within walking dis-tance of Irvine what could one do but get involved although, in his early days, it was the necessity to bring a few extra shillings into the family purse that took Harry on to a golf course.

Among the many stories he told was of how he caddied for the well known amateur and Walker Cup golfer, Jimmy Walker. Jimmy was not always the smartest of dressers on the course so Harry thought he would tidy him up by starting on his shoes which he polisned to a glowing shine. After the match Jimmy blamed Harry for losing him the game. He said that every time he addressed his putt, the glare from the shoes blinded him and he couldn't see the line.

From caddying as a lad it was only a step into greenkeeping where he started as an apprentice at Glasgow Gailes under the Head Greenkeeper, Bert Graham, and the then First Assistant, Ben Moir. There Harry learned the basic art of greenkeeping and, as he said, "How to take care of yourself and, if possible, avoid the golfers".

Harry served his National Service with the Scottish Fusiliers, one of the Scottish Regiments who were formed and recruited in Ayrshire. He was always the athletic type and took part in all sports, in particular, running for his Battalion. After his National Service he returned to Glasgow Gailes where he started to play serious golf. He was involved in

county golf as a boy and played in the Scottish Boys and other local competitions. It was not long before the County saw Harry's ability to win golf matches and at a handicap of one he was often in the Ayrshire County Team.

When it came to Greenkeepers' Competitions, Harry's name appears on most of the Scottish trophies. He might have gone into Professional Golf but as most of us know, the Club Pros in the 50s had a harder time keeping the wolf from the door than even greenkeepers.

He served his time as a greenkeep-er and then moved on to Irvine Bogside as Head Greenkeeper, where I know he had happy memories but as we know this does not fill the pot, so Harry took up the Course Manager's position at Ayr Belleisle and Seafield Municipal golf courses

where he stayed for many years until he was asked to take a desk job in Golf Administration for Ayr Council.

This was a prestige position where he had many irons in the fire, not least the ability to assist in Greenkeepers' education. At this time, Ayr Technical College refused to carry on with the education of our Assistants. Harry was instrumental in persuading the Educationalists on the Council and the Youth Employment that a College for Greenkeepers was essential in Ayr when one considers the number of golf courses that fall within the boundaries of Ayr and the number of greenkeeping students requiring the-oretical training. It was only sensible that courses to this end were started and financed and the students taught to a Higher national level locally.

Harry served the greenkeepers on

many committees. His record for ser-vice in the Ayrshire Section is unequalled, starting back in the SIGGA days right up to the 16th of November when he was on the tele-phone to me making suggestions of now we could go about helping greenkeepers who had occupational ailments. This was Harry - always thinking about his fellow man.

In recent years, as well as being active in the Ayrshire Section, he was Chairman of the Scottish Regional Board of BIGGA and did three years on the Board of Management as the Scottish Representative where those serving at the time will remember his sound and wise counselling. I know that if we on the Scottish Board gave him a brief it was carried out to the letter.

After retiring Harry was called back to Ayr Council to help finalise the redistribution of work on the Sports Grounds and Golf Courses. He finally wound that up, and was invited out to Malta to straighten out constructional problems they were having with their existing golf course. It ended up with his being the mainstay in putting the whole course into excellent playing condi-tion. For over two years he flew in and out of Malta so many times that he was known as "Trie Maltese Falcon". I can't recall whether I told him about this alias. If I did he would have laughed for if anyone liked a good story it was Harry. His ready wit and marvellous memory brought tears of laughter to any gathering of friends. He was an avid reader which was obvious from his conversation.

Harry is survived by Jessie, his sec-ond wife - they were married in America in the summer of 1998 - his son, Paul, and three daughters, Ann, Linda and Rosemary, and 11 grand-children, and Jessie's two sons, Kenneth and Allan, who will all find a vacancy in their lives.

The funeral service was held in the Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr, there-after to Masonhill Crematorium. Both services were well attended by friends. It is a mark of respect for Harry that the Crematorium was filled to capacity and standing.

Our thoughts are with the family in their time of mourning.

What can we say except, "Well Done" to a life that touched us all.